By Bill W. Cooper
Montserrado County Senator, Abraham Darius Dillon has now pledged his fullest towards dual citizenship thus promising to proffer a bill, seeking for dual citizenship for Liberians around the globe.
He said that the 1986 Constitution of Liberia with Alien nationality law is a bit confusing and as such, there is an urgent need that said provision be harmonized in order for Liberians in the diaspora who may have had Liberian citizenship prior to leaving here, to enjoy said rights.
Speaking to legislative reporters at his Capitol Building office on March 2, in Monrovia, Sen. Dillon among other things emphasized that it is totally discriminatory for other Liberians to be denied dual citizenship because of circumstances which they have no control over.
He explained, “I Darius Dillon of Grand Bassa, born and schooled in Bassa and later moved out of the country and for me to return, I must apply for visa to come to Liberia is something that we must address through the law as fast as possible.”
“So because of that, I will be submitting a bill seeking to amend the Alien and Nationality Law of Liberia which creates some confusion that needs clarity for Liberians to still enjoy citizenship,” he said.
The Montserrado County lawmaker further noted that he’s currently enjoying support of Liberians globally on the decision of amending the Citizen-Alien laws of the country, indicating that he will ensure that he lobbies with his colleagues for a smooth passage.
He further alluded that under the law of Liberia, the rights of being a Liberian cannot be taken away by any means unless through the laws of the country thus relating his decision on the Jalloh case of September 2019, in which the National Legislature adopted a Joint Resolution proposing for a Constitutional Referendum to amend some portion of the 1986 Constitution.
However, Sen. Dillon’s decision to support the dual citizenship came months after the Collaborating Political Party (CPP) which he is a member and other Liberians opposing to the National Referendum which was proposed by President George M. Weah to amend portion of the Constitution in the Tuesday, December 8, Special Senatorial Election.
The CPP through its National Chairman, Alexander B. Cummings at the time argued that the CPP and other Liberians were never against the conduct of the referendum, but instead wanted it postponed due to what they termed as “unconstitutional conduct and the lack of public awareness” concerning the process as enshrined within the Constitution.
During the argument, Sen. Dillon also called on the government to halt the Referendum process due to its untimeliness and limited public awareness for Liberians especially those in the rural parts of Liberia.